Authorities to shut off unlicensed TV channels

CAIRO – 2 December 2018: Since 2011, many unlicensed satellite TV channels have been launched to broadcast pirated movies, and ads for unregistered medical drugs and beauty products. The number of those channels hit 12 and they broadcast from Al-Mansoureya in Al-Haram district.

Those channels host individuals who claim they have the ability to counter spells, and heal people using Quran (Muslims' holy book).

Chairman of the Egyptian Media Production City (EMPC) Osama Heikal told Egypt Today that the Media Law issued in July grants those channels a grace period to issue licenses or they will be shut off.

Heikal explained that such channels violate intellectual property rights as they broadcast movies that are still showing in cinemas which incurs losses for producers and harms the industry. The official added that the source of the products advertised on unlicensed channels is unknown, and that the phone numbers indicated in the ads are for delivery only.

The official warned that some of those channels may also be used to promote extremist and terrorist discourse.

Heikal affirmed that the number of channels broadcast via the Nilesat is 650, and that they are all licensed. He revealed that 90 percent of unlicensed channels are owned by locals and are headquartered in rented apartments in populous neighborhoods.

The official stated that those channels are broadcast via Eutelsat S.A. that is a satellite operator not based in Egypt. It possesses a fleet of satellites covering Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Chairman of Nilesat Co. Ahmed Anis said that Eutelsat satellites are located seven degrees to the west. Since most Egyptians install satellite dishes, they are able to receive unlicensed channels once they enter the code in case their dishes are pointing to the same direction as the satellite. That is why some think that unlicensed channels are broadcast via Nilesat.

Since Nilesat has no authority over other satellites, the option for filing complaints is resorting to the judiciary or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.